21 MAY 1859, Page 12

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

THE WORKING OF " NEUTRALITY."

As we anticipated, the neutrality officially proclaimed by our own Government proves to be insufficient for its professed purpose; and to enforce it would be inconsistent with the interests and the political position of this country. The statements of fact ad- vanced against it are already serious, and the expression of opin- ion has appeared in quarters so various as to indicate the growth of- something like a unanimous feeling ; while the interests at stake are so substantial that we have every gage of English en- thusiasm—for your Englishman is commonly most enthusiastic about something decidedly solid. The Government, we thoroughly believe, have intended to take no particular side ; but if the pro- clamation were effective it would work on one side. Austria gets her supplies from the East : under existing circumstances, France and Sardinia naturally look to the West ; but England interposes an obstacle to the freedom of-those supplies. Our contemporary, Le Word, who may be said on this occasion to speak the sentiments equally of France and Russia, touches upon this one-sided effect of this professed impartiality-

" England has thought it her duty to proclaim, on the opening of the war now being carried on, her absolute neutrality ; and it was already strange -enough, assuredly, that this power, so prompt in words to take the part of oppressed peoples and of nations threatened in their independence, should not make common cause with her all of yesterday in the East, in this queition and this war in the West, now raised and waged for the deliverance of Italy. But this is not all ; whilst the Emperor of the French, faithful to the traditions cf his house and his country, professes this doctrine which embodies all the progress made by modern European interaationatlaw, the Queen of England, on the contrary, proclaims anew theold barbarotis international law of antiquity and the media,val period."

• It is, however, more to the point that the issue of the proclama- tion threatened to inflict injury on British interests ; while to pursbe the 'course marked out logically to its legitimate complete- ness would deal a deadly blow at more than one most important brill-eh of our commerce. The shipowners are instantly complain- ingahat by the terms of the proclamation British ships are pre- el4dell from sharing the profits derived from conveying coal and other-goods from this country to France, Austria, and Sardinia. Ware-quoting the letter of Messrs. P. D. Collins and Co., ship brokers, in a letter to the Times, who " would be glad to know by what reasoning the Government can justify the last enactment," which includes a prohibition against engagement in the service of any of those Powers as cargo or troop ships."

" Were we, as formerly, the sole ocean carriers, such a proclamation might have had a beneficial effect, but now it is simply absurd.

"All foreign flags can load in our ports any cargoes, and deliver them to the French, Austrian, or Sardinian ports, and our shipowners must look calmly on and see themselves gradually denuded of their hardly earned wealth (if wealth it can now be called)."

The proclamation, therefore, must fail in its main intent, or place the British mercantile marine so far in abeyance.

Our readers know that the coalowners have not generally been a prosperous body. Coal mining, like all other kinds of mining, has its vicissitudes ; and while one vein may return handsome profits to the owners, for a time, shortcoming or disaster may re- duce the profits of their mines to something worse than nil, and at the same time the general competition in the market prevents prices from rising to a compensating scale. And now that a splendid opportunity is offered for a special extension of their trade, certain and remunerative, they are told, it shall not be ; nay, they are not even favoured with anything so positively dis- tinct. " With regard to whether coal is to be considered contra- band of war," says the Money Editor of the Times, " the Govern- ment, it is understood, desire to avoid pronouncing any opinion. Vessels carrying such cargoes will do so at their own risk, and if they are seized by a belligerent Power and brought before a pro- per 'Court for adjudication, the d?eision then arrived at will help to guide future views Upon the question." Another announcement on the legal authority of Government has taken the shipping interest by surprise,—" that all charters of ships to the French Government as "transports" or " storeships" are in-contravention of the 59th of George III., cap. 69, and will involve confiscation of ship, and prosecution and imprisonment for misdemeanour on information being given of the existence of any such contract." By this act existing contracts are thrown into confusion ; as in the case of the Mauritius. " The provisions of the contract in that instance include a penalty of 10,0001. for non-fulfilment; but this, of course, cannot be enforced, since the contract itself is pronounced illegal. There are several other cases of charters for similar purposes which in like manner will have to be abandoned."

We have quoted our authorities because we do not wish the ease to stand our showing. The Times has not been favour- able to war ; it is fivourable to neutrality. The public feeling of the -country is so, on purely political ground; but England is above all things a commercial nation, and when the question is presented in its commercial aspect, undoubtedly it will be re- garded in a new, and Shall we say a more practical light.

Belgium has adhered to the declaration adopted by the Con- ference of Paris in 1856—a declaration which pronounces paper blockades to be ineffectual; privateering to be abolished ; neutral goods to be exempt from seizure, and neutral bottoms exempt him visitation. Substantially this declaration should have the effect, as it appeared to have the intention, of exempting ordinary peaceful commerce from interference during war ; but according

to the construction which has been put upon-..the existing laws of this country, we claim- to: revive our.old right: of: visitower justify the search for enemy's goods in nentral:bottanap rindf,:wei attempt to do that impiactieable thing, 'arresting -pean,s4111. eci4so merce lest amidst its beneficial- eichanges. something Shofild.ltirk4 that may benefit a belligerent. - Eveirif our GOVeriOnalit-C6filcr carry out such a policy-,—we'-donbtitand its'14**ifedindi-1 cute no such intention,—the onlfresUlt would be VieettAiii British r ships and British merchants from. sharing the .active trade„

which will be proseciitedbyTthe;' of ,the.11;ritite'd States,: Holland, France ; perhaps even. Spain cutting out,ottrcePDAeiSial: men in their own business. The neutrality of the United.Stntes,: which places no restraints upon commerce, and allowstraders to

furnish both sides in a war without iiindianee,- is really-the . only mode of leaving the two - sides 'te Make the best :of their' case without any interference Whatelier.'.. It- is carrying out' free trade to its legitimate extension', and is ; nothing • more' than complete non-intervention. Thit from their explanation' Ministers do not intend to develope non-intervention' into non-, intercourse.